DUTCH NUCLEAR ENERGY?

Nuclear energy has been a taboo subject in the Netherlands. But the debate has been reopened as a result of the urgent problem of CO2 emissions and the increasing dependence on foreign energy sources. Electricity producer EPZ in Borssele, which runs the only commercial nuclear power station in the Netherlands is pleased.

Of course, like no other Mr Bongers knows that new nuclear power stations are not going to shoot up like mushrooms. The current government parties has agreed not to take any decision on building new nuclear plants during their term in government. And anyway the procedures for planning permission and handling objections are long. But meanwhile EPZ is not sitting on its hands: "We are making preparations to apply for planning in the near future. But a new nuclear station will be built between 2015 and 2020 at the earliest."

Diederik Samson shivers at the thought. The Labour Party MP and nuclear physicist thinks the same about nuclear energy now as he did back in the 1990s when he was campaign leader for Greenpeace. He still opposes nuclear energy in spite of the positive breeze blowing through the nuclear energy camp. read more (radionetherlands.nl)


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December 15, 2008